16/06/2026
16th June 2026
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Theme: โEnsuring universal access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for every child in Africa.โ
Today, as we commemorate the Day of the African Child, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) National Youth Executive Committee joins millions across the continent in celebrating the resilience, potential, and aspirations of African children.
This day serves as a reminder of the courageous students of Soweto who, on 16 June 1976, stood up for their right to quality education and dignity. Their sacrifice continues to inspire us to advocate for the welfare, protection, and development of every child.
This yearโs theme, โPlanning and Budgeting for Childrenโs Rights: Progress Since 2010,โ calls upon governments, institutions, communities, and stakeholders to reflect on the commitments made towards improving the lives of children and to ensure that adequate resources are allocated to secure their future.
As the BDP National Youth Executive Committee, we recognize that children are not only the leaders of tomorrow but active participants in shaping todayโs society. We therefore reaffirm our commitment to supporting policies and initiatives that;
โข Promote access to quality and inclusive education for all children.
* Strengthen child protection systems against abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
* Improve access to healthcare, nutrition, and mental wellness services.
* Expand opportunities for children with disabilities and special needs.
* Ensure meaningful youth and child participation in decision-making processes affecting their lives.
We commend Botswanaโs continued efforts in investing in education, healthcare, and social protection programmes. However, more work remains to be done to address emerging challenges such as poverty, digital inequality, substance abuse, violence, and mental health concerns affecting children and young people.
The BDP National Youth Executive Committee further calls upon parents, educators, community leaders, civil society, and development partners to work collectively in creating safe, nurturing, and empowering environments where every child can thrive.
On this Day of the African Child, let us renew our commitment to building a Botswana and an Africa where every child enjoys their rights, realizes their potential, and contributes meaningfully to national development.
๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐!
Issued by:
๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ (๐๐๐๐)
๐๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฒ (๐๐๐)
